The UFC lightweight contender captured the RAF middleweight crossover championship with a 10-0 technical fall before setting his sights on MMA legend George St-Pierre.
Arman Tsarukyan is already looking for his next challenge, and this time, he has one of the greatest fighters in MMA history in mind.
Following a dominant 10-0 technical fall victory over Dillon Danis at Real American Freestyle (RAF) 14 on October 23, 2026, the UFC lightweight contender expressed interest in facing former two-division UFC champion George St-Pierre in a wrestling match.
Tsarukyan captured the RAF middleweight crossover championship at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, dispatching Danis in the opening period before turning his attention toward another high-profile opponent.
While no negotiations or official plans for a matchup with St-Pierre have been announced, Tsarukyan’s interest reflects his growing ambitions beyond the UFC Octagon.
Tsarukyan Dominates Danis to Capture RAF Championship
Tsarukyan entered RAF 14 with a reputation as one of the UFC lightweight division’s most accomplished wrestlers.
Against Danis, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt known for his submission grappling background and outspoken personality, Tsarukyan demonstrated the effectiveness of his wrestling under freestyle rules.
The Armenian contender controlled the contest from the opening exchanges, quickly establishing a significant scoring advantage.
Tsarukyan ultimately secured a 10-0 technical fall during the first period, ending the match without allowing Danis to score a point.
The victory earned Tsarukyan the RAF middleweight crossover championship and further established his credentials in competitive wrestling outside mixed martial arts.
For Danis, the result marked another difficult appearance under the RAF banner.
The American grappler fell to 0-3 in the promotion, having previously suffered defeats against former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington and reigning UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.
Despite Danis’ extensive submission grappling experience, Tsarukyan’s wrestling proved too much for him in Las Vegas.
George St-Pierre Emerges as Tsarukyan’s Next Target
With the championship secured, Tsarukyan wasted little time identifying the type of opponent he wants to face next.
Rather than focusing solely on active MMA competitors, Tsarukyan expressed interest in testing himself against George St-Pierre, widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time.
St-Pierre, a former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion, built his legendary career around a combination of technical striking, exceptional timing, and some of the most effective takedowns in UFC history.
Although he did not come from a traditional elite freestyle wrestling background, St-Pierre developed into one of MMA’s most successful wrestlers through his ability to blend striking and takedowns.
His victories over accomplished wrestlers and grapplers helped establish his reputation as one of the sport’s most complete competitors.
For Tsarukyan, a wrestling match against St-Pierre would provide an opportunity to test his skills against a fighter whose grappling ability helped define an era of MMA.
However, the matchup remains purely hypothetical.
St-Pierre retired from professional MMA in 2019 and has not announced any intention to compete against Tsarukyan.
A Clash of Wrestling Generations
A potential Arman Tsarukyan versus St-Pierre wrestling match would bring together athletes from two different generations of MMA.
Tsarukyan, 30, represents the modern lightweight division, where high-level wrestling, submission grappling, and striking have become increasingly integrated.
His ability to chain takedowns, maintain positional control, and scramble through difficult exchanges has made him one of the UFC’s most challenging lightweight competitors.
St-Pierre, now 45, represents an earlier generation of MMA excellence.
During his UFC career, the Canadian legend became renowned for his double-leg takedowns, timing, athleticism, and ability to control opponents who possessed strong wrestling backgrounds.
However, freestyle wrestling presents different challenges from MMA.
Without strikes, submissions, or cage wrestling, both competitors would need to rely on takedowns, positional awareness, and scoring techniques specific to the sport.
Tsarukyan’s recent experience competing under RAF rules would provide him with a significant advantage in familiarity with the format.
Age and competitive activity would also be important considerations, given St-Pierre’s extended retirement from professional fighting.
Nevertheless, the prospect of seeing two accomplished MMA wrestlers from different eras compete under a specialized ruleset would likely generate considerable interest among combat sports fans.
RAF 14 Ends With Controversy Following Danis Defeat
Although Arman Tsarukyan’s performance was decisive, the event also attracted attention for incidents surrounding his matchup with Danis.
Tensions between the two competitors had already escalated during the pre-fight press conference.
Danis appeared wearing a shirt mocking Tsarukyan’s teammate Khamzat Chimaev, contributing to a physical confrontation on stage.
The hostility continued after the wrestling match.
Following his victory, Tsarukyan stepped on Danis while he was on the mat, adding another controversial moment to an already heated rivalry.
Video footage also appeared to show a spectator kicking Danis as he exited the competition area before security personnel intervened.
The incidents drew attention away from what had otherwise been a dominant championship performance by Tsarukyan.
Despite the controversy, the official result remained a convincing 10-0 technical fall victory for the Armenian.
Tsarukyan Continues Exploring Competition Beyond MMA
Arman Tsarukyan’s participation in RAF highlights a growing trend of established MMA fighters competing in specialized combat sports events outside their primary promotions.
Real American Freestyle has attracted recognizable MMA names by providing a platform for wrestlers and grapplers to compete under freestyle rules.
For fighters like Tsarukyan, these appearances offer opportunities to remain competitively active while testing specific elements of their skill sets.
His victory over Danis demonstrated that his wrestling credentials extend beyond the mixed martial arts environment.
A matchup with St-Pierre would carry an entirely different level of historical significance, even if the competitive circumstances would heavily favor the younger, active athlete.
For now, Tsarukyan remains the newly crowned RAF middleweight crossover champion, with another dominant performance added to his résumé.
Whether St-Pierre has any interest in accepting the challenge remains unknown.
But Tsarukyan has made his ambitions clear: after overwhelming Dillon Danis, he wants to test himself against one of the biggest names the sport has ever produced.
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